CHAPTER 36: His Realization

DARREN’s P.O.V.

“So, what color do you want to be the theme of our wedding, Darren?” Kate asked annoyingly.

She’s been asking me so many questions since we arrived in here. I’m wondering why do I need to participate in this preparation when we already hired a wedding planner and everything.

“Anything...” I answered, bored.

“But I want you to choose,” she pouted, trying to look cute.

I sighed. If this is the price I’m going to pay in order to forget that woman, I’ll be willing to do this rather than suffer silently in pain. I can’t even stand hearing her name. She even had the face to tell me about her leaving the country. I admit it, it did bother me for a moment thinking that she’s leaving and I could never see her again, forever. But after a while, I realized that maybe that decision of hers is for the best.

“Choose, Darren.”

“Fine, fine. Will black do?” I asked sarcastically.

Mrs. Frias glared at my direction, looking mad because of what I’d just said.

“Darren, please take this seriously. I don’t want my daughter’s wedding to be joke.”

“Sorry,” I halfheartedly apologized.

“Mom, that’s fine. And maybe his idea wasn’t so bad after all. Black is good,” Kate stated as she fluttered her eyelashes on me.

Seriously? What is wrong with this girl? Does she really that in love with me? Well, I wouldn’t mind seeing her wearing a black dress while walking down the isle during our wedding day.

“Kate, please choose another color. I think that black is not appropriate for the occasion. It’s a wedding day, dear. Not a wake or a burial,” Mrs. Frias said firmly.

Kate just nodded before tugging me along with her. I let myself followed her through the hall of different dresses.

“Mom doesn’t like your idea, though if that’s what makes my future husband happy, I’ll do it.”

She smiled at me before giving me a peck of a quick kiss on my lips. It was nothing compared to what I felt when Claire and I... It is too hard to forget her. Every moment... I just...

“Hey, Darren... Is something wrong?” Kate asked worried.

“Nope.”

“You looked stunned when I kissed you. What’s the matter?”

I can’t stand her anymore. I thought I’ll forget about Claire when I’m with her but I couldn’t. My heart can’t stop comparing her to any other girls. She’s the only one. Everything could have worked out so well if she didn’t cheated on me.

“Nothing, Kate. I’m sorry but I can’t do this right now. Can I take a rest for a moment? I’m heading home.”

“Sure... But, would you dropped me and my Mom off at our house first? You know, everyone does that.”

I just nodded in agreement to avoid further more arguments. Besides, I wouldn’t mind dropping them off because I’m not really going home. I’ll go to Elijah’s workplace, since I knew that he’s there. And maybe I could see her too... Just maybe.

”Let’s go home, Mom. Darren is tired but he volunteered to dropped us home first.”

Mrs. Frias looked at me with amusement in her eyes. As if she couldn’t believe that I did offer them a ride. Though I didn’t really do it because Kate was the one who insisted.

Just like what my fiancé requested, I dropped them off to their house before going to the school where Elijah is working. Gladly, I’m just in time because he’s about to go home when I saw him.

“Elij...” I called his name.

He turned his gaze towards me, surprised at first but after a few seconds, his eyes’ emotions were replaced with sadness and fear.

“Darren... You’re here.”

I instantly knew that there is a problem because he didn’t call me “bro” or anything that he does playfully whenever I’m around.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“Nothing...”

“Come on. Tell me about it. We’re best friend, right?”

“Yeah... Fine, fine. Are you sure you wanted to marry Kate? Cause if you’re not and you’re just doing this to forget about Claire, please don’t. You’re going to hurt another girl, bro.”

I looked at him in disbelief. And when did my relationship with Kate started to bother him that much? Is he worried about her?

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked. “I’m serious, Darren.”

“Why did you suddenly became worried about Kate? Do you like her?”

“What?! Me? No,” he answered too quickly. “I’m not worried about her. I’m worried about you. You’re going to tie yourself to someone you don’t love. Once your marriage was done, you can’t do anything about it anymore.”

“And who do you want me to tie myself into? Claire? Come on, Elij. You knew what she’d done to me.”

“You’re being so hard on her. Did you even let her explain herself?”

“I did. But I can’t trust her anymore.”

“I hope you wouldn’t regret that decision, Darren. Cause Claire is gone right now. She left, without saying anything.”

So she’s telling the truth. They’re leaving the country. And they already did. Now I can’t chase her anymore because she didn’t tell me where. She could be in any part of the world right now. I felt a kick of sadness inside of my chest. Though I already expected this to happen, it feels like I’m still unprepared.

“I know, Elijah. She told me about it.”

“What?! And you just let her leave?! What kind of a man are you?! Did you even considered what she’s feeling right now?” he asked dramatically. “Where did she go?” he added.

“I don’t know. She didn’t tell me.”

“It’s because she probably thinks that you don’t care or give a damn anymore! Find her, Darren! Find her now! If you didn’t, maybe you cannot see her face ever again.”

“Well that’s fine. After a few days, Kate and I are going to be married anyways. So what’s the point, right?”

”You’re unbelievable. You have a choice to stop that wedding if you want, Darren. Do it before everything gets worst. I’m telling you. Don’t hurt any other woman anymore. Find Claire and apologize to her...”

I looked at him, brows furrowed. I’m starting to get annoyed at his bossy response.

“You can’t force me to fix a relationship that I didn’t broke. It’s her fault, Elijah...”

“How can you say so?! You didn’t even listen to her! Just like what you did in our high school reunion...”

That hit me really hard. The night that I physically hurt her because of one small mistake. And I didn’t open my ears to listen. I always let my emotions take over me.

“You’re not the friend I used to know. If your Mom was still alive, she would have been disappointed seeing you like this.”

I clenched my fist before hitting his face. How can he said that? He’s my best friend but it seems like he’s dragging me down. He tested my patience and now look at what happened to us.

Elijah was on the ground right now, composing himself as he rubbed his jaw. A drop of blood falls down from his lips, and he looked awfully mad at me.

“I’m going to prove it to you soon, Darren. Claire is not the one who should be blame for this.”

He stood up before glaring at me. And without any words, he left me there. As soon as he was already out of my sight, I hopped inside my car. I slapped the wheel thrice, mentally scolding myself. What have I done? I didn’t just hurt Claire. I also pushed my best friend away. All he wanted to do is to help me realize something but I failed to listen... Again.

I decided to finally went home. Maids are all whispering about me when I came into the view so I go straight to my room to avoid their irritating voices. I lay down in my bed, trying to remember the first night that Claire told me that she loves me. The night that she surrendered herself to me and decided to trust me. I failed to do the same thing. I failed to trust her. I should’ve listen to her first.

“Son?” I heard several knocks on my door.

I lazily stood up, opening it for my Dad. He’s standing at my doorstep, holding a plate with something on it. It’s food. And I can instantly recognized that it was some pancakes.

“What’s that?” I asked even though I obviously knew what is it.

“Uhm... Pancakes? Kate told me that you haven’t eaten anything for dinner yet, so I bring you some food.”

I looked at him with amusement. This is the first time that he worries about me. He even brought me something to eat.

“Did you make it?”

“Nope. I bought it. Thankfully, you didn’t ate those pancakes that I made last time. The maids told me that it taste awful.”

I chuckled to myself, getting the plate from his hand. I took a small bite before I slowly chewed it. It’s not as good as my Mom’s or Claire’s but it tastes just fine.

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah.”

“Eat all of it. I’ll just go to my office to finish some of my paper works. Just call me if you need anything, alright?”

I smiled at him before nodding. He knew that I could call the maids but still, he offered his help. I don’t know what’s with him. Maybe he’s just worried for me because of what happened. Before he could step out of my room, I called him again.

“Uhm... D-Dad?”

“Yes?” He quickly turned around to face me.

“Thanks a lot.” He smiled, a real one.